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Herbs for your mutts, pups & Nobles’ skin problems?

Posted By:Ockert CameronPublished:23/04/2017Times Read:1586Comments:0

As the largest organ of the body, the skin is overlooked and undervalued by most allopathic veterinarians because they view the skin as a separate system from the rest of the body. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

The following information is meant as a general guideline, and has been researched from other sources.

Dogs Naturally Magazine recently published a very informative article from Rita Hogan, a canine herbalist. In the article, which you can read here), Rita states that from a holistic and integrative perspective, the skin functions as a complex integrated organ communicating to the rest of the body through systemic pathways including the nervous, kidney, liver, digestive and immune systems.

The skin is part of a bodily system called the integumentary system that includes nails, earflaps, ear canals, fur and various glands like sweat, anal, tail and lymph. It provides an elemental barrier holding muscles, internal organs, bones and connective tissue inside the body giving dogs their flexible shape. With a pH of 7.4 varying slightly depending on the area of the body, breed, fur colour and stress level, skin makes up 12 percent of your dog’s total bodyweight.

Simply stated, the skin isn’t just a body blanket, it serves a functioning purpose and contributes to the vitality of your fur kids. That’s why it’s so important to make sure it’s healthy, along with all the other working inner parts. If your dog’s running into annoying skin issues, or what you think might be allergies, and your fed up trying to help him or her – have a look at the Dogs Naturally Magazine free leaky gut guide (DNM Leaky Gut Guide). Once you address what’s going on in the inside of your fur kids, the healing will follow on the outside.

The Layers Of The Skin

A dog’s skin is thinner than ours. 95 percent is covered in fur (give or take some hairless breeds) and made up of three layers: the
epidermis, dermis and hydrodermis.

Epidermis

The epidermis has five layers and contains four different kinds of cells: keratinocytes, melanocytes, merkel and langerhans.

Dermis

The second layer of the skin is called the dermis. Attached by basil cells and a layer of protein called collagen, the dermis provides a strong
foundation for hair growth and connective tissue. Unlike the non-vascular epidermis, the dermis has an intricate network of nerves, blood vessels, lymph glands and nervous system receptors that regulate pain and other sensations.

Hypodermis

The last layer of skin is the hypodermis. It anchors the skin to the underlying systems of the body while providing flexibility, shock absorption and insulation.

A common mistake made by pet parents, guardians and groomers alike, is using human shampoo (or shampoo with the incorrect pH) to wash their fur kids. Please read our article on shampoo here on this topic and do not repeat this mistake.

The Failure Of The Standard Of Care

The standard of care in Western veterinary medicine is a set of circumstances for which a defined standard treatment is administered. The standard of care for most skin issues, acute or chronic, involves the administering of antibiotics, anti-fungals, immunosuppressants and corticosteroids. This system doesn’t treat your dog as an individual or question the cause of the condition. The standard of care is the same for your Pug as it is for your Husky despite differences in diet, environment, vaccination, stress level or toxic load.

Allopathic medicine’s regimen of eradication and suppression depletes the immune system and produces heat, congestion and inflammation throughout the body. What makes matters worse is repeated use of vaccines, antibiotics, and steroids that can cause systemic imbalances leading to food sensitivities, impaired liver and pancreatic function, arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, leaky gut syndrome, autoimmune disease and cancer.

An Early Warning System

The release of toxins through the skin is the body’s way of trying to rid itself of disease. When we pay attention, the skin can serve as an early warning system alerting you to chronic disease and imbalances inside your fur kid’s body.

In the early 1800s, American herbalist Samuel Thomson taught that disease “radiates from the center to the skin.” Homeopaths know this theory as Hering’s Law of Cure from Constantine Hering, who’s known as the father of American homeopathy. Basically, when you look at how logical the body is and how it functions with its own set of checks and balances, it makes sense that the body would protect itself by sending toxins to the periphery.

Per Rita, "as healers, we can minimize these symptoms with herbal palliative care but by no means should we suppress them unless it’s a matter of life or death. Suppression of symptoms confuses the immune system, pushing the imbalance deeper into vital organs like the liver, kidneys, pancreas, nervous and digestive systems."

Treating Skin Conditions

Chronic skin issues require consistency and time for true healing. The cause of the disease or imbalance must be treated and then the body will
correct itself which can take up to a year or more.

Diet (biologically, specie-appropriate food), flower essences, exercise, fresh air, chiropractic care and massage provide effective additions for
any skin-balancing program. Daily massage increases circulation which brings nutrients to the skin, disperses oils through the dermis and helps move lymph fluids and excrete toxins. Supplementation can play a key role in balancing out the body and supporting the liver. Make sure your dog is receiving a fresh food diet with the proper ratio of
vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, probiotics and essential fatty acids.

As Rita states in the article, "As an herbalist I know that chronic skin issues can be frustrating for both you and your dog. Herbal and homeopathic medicine can help by acting as a catalyst to help the body adjust and heal itself."

What about the herbs then?

In their book, "Herbs for Pets: The Natural Way to Enhance Your Pet's Life", Mary L. Wulff and Geg L. Tilford discuss herbs in detail - a whole chapter dedicated. They state "Since most forms of skin disease are related for poor elimination of systemic waste or immune system deficiency, a great deal can be accomplished by supporting the liver, kidneys, lymphatic system, immune system, and digestive functions with Herbs."

The following are a list of tried and tested herbs. However, please note that herbal and other natural products can harm your animals – not all plants are safe and gentle! Do not attempt using any of the ingredients listed, or any other plant matter, without the guidance of a qualified herbalist. We supply two pre-made blends for your convenience (a) The Herbal Pet and (b) our Custom Blend, both formulated by leading herbalists in South Africa.

a. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)Parts used: whole plant, leaf, dried root.Method: tincture, decoction, infusion and dried root.External use: simmer leaves for 5 minutes and use as a poultice to bring down swellings.Internal use: supports the nervous system and is anti-inflammatory.

c. Calendula (Calendula officinalis) Parts used: Flowers. Method: infusion, tincture, oil, fresh or dried flower. External use: massage oil or salve for deep dermal penetration to increase blood flow and circulation. Calendula compresses are excellent for anal swellings, improve lymphatic drainage, dry weeping skin. Internal use: anti-ulcer, anti-tumor, supports the liver and lymphatic system, anti-inflammatory, soothes the digestive system and gently stimulates the immune system. Calendula is high is water content so it is best to dry them before use unless making a flower essence. Avoid giving internally during hot weather as Calendula is warming.

d. Chickweed (Stellaria media) Parts used: flowers, leaves, stems.Method: tincture, oil, infusion, fresh or dried.External use: simmer leaves to make a poultice for treating hot spots, ulcerated tissue, all types of sores, and dry skin. Can also be used on the top of the tail where fleas like to bite.Internal use: lymph stimulant, anti-tumor, digestive support, anti-inflammatory, prebiotic. Excellent alternative to calendula in the summer as chickweed is cooling.

h. Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus)Parts used: leaves and root.Methods: infusion, decoction, tincture, dried herb, oil.External use: fresh cooled infusion can treat burns, itching, wounds and insect bites.Internal use: juice can be used for burns humectant, liver support, small intestine and kidney support. Use as a single herb under the supervision of an herbalist or holistic vet. Not for long-term use.

The skin is an indicator of health. When treating conditions of the skin including the ears, make sure your health practitioner uses a complete approach focused on causative factors.